A SELFLESS businessman who travelled from County Durham to York every day for several weeks to help flood victims has been nominated for the York & District Medal.

Dave Morton, 55, of Newton Aycliffe, who runs a small tennis court maintenance company, was inspired to help in the clean-up operation after seeing York's plight on the news one night.

He said he jumped in his van with his son Paul, aged 26, at 5.30am the following day to offer their free support in clearing mud away with his firm's high pressure cleaning equipment, and he ended up coming almost every day for six and a half weeks.

Dave said they focussed on clearing people's drives, pathways and car parks, in some cases 'revolting, horrible, smelly mud', in areas such as Walmgate, Navigation Road and flood-stricken districts near the Ouse.

Richard Barwick, the chairman of Appleton Roebuck Tennis Club, who nominated Dave for the medal, said he knew him because he did work for many tennis clubs in the York area, including his.

"I spotted his name on the Facebook entries that appeared as soon as the floods hit on Boxing Day," he said.

"Apparently, he and his son had turned up in Navigation Road together with his high pressure cleaning equipment, offering to help, free of charge, any and all the flood victims he could find by cleaning away all the muck and slim.

"He spent the next three weeks driving up and down from County Durham just to help out the many people affected. He also got involved with local organisations trying to get better coordination of how to help local people using Facebook.

"Dave was due to come and do some fencing work for our club and this was delayed due to him giving up his business interests in order to help those people in dire need.

"I think to turn up day after day to help the York people simply because he knew he had the skills and equipment, even though he lived over 60 miles away, was commendable and certainly deserves a medal."

The Press has teamed up with City of York Council to recognise flood heroes through the medal, with support from York-based mutual healthcare provider, Benenden.

To nominate your flood heroes email newsdesk@thepress.co.uk with your name, address and contact details, plus the name and contact details (if available) of the person you are nominating, and explain the reasons for the nomination. Alternatively, send your completed nomination form from the newspaper to York & District Medal, Newsdesk, The Press, 84-86 Walmgate, York YO1 9YN.